Spill proof cap for different sized bottle openings

ABSTRACT

A device which has a cap having connection means of multiple geometries such that connection can be made with a variety of bottle openings and a valve to inhibit spillage through the cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] There are a variety of caps on the market. There are the capsused for children's sippy cups. Some bottles have pull top screw capsthat you see on sports bottles, bottled water, etc. There are also thescrew caps that are twisted to open and twisted to close. However all ofthese caps require a mechanical movement between the open and closedpositions.

[0002] In many instances a cap that is spill proof and which does notrequire a mechanical movement between the open and closed position isdesirable. To sip from such a cup is much more simple and convenientthan the conventional bottle screw tops.

[0003] There are instances when multiple bottles of fluid are desiredand perhaps have different screw diameters. In such instances, a screwcap having multiple thread grooves is of great benefit. With a youngchild such a cap would allow multiple bottles to be used while using thesame effective non-spill screw cap. It would also allow for the purchaseof adult bottles of fluid with a standard cap. Bottles with standardcaps require less manufacturing and are typically less expensive.

[0004] As there are several standard sized bottle thread geometries, adevice having such a cap with multiple adapters would allow for a widerarray of geometries.

[0005] There remains a need for a cap or a device having multiple bottlethread geometries.

[0006] All US patents and applications and all other published documentsmentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

[0007] Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary ofsome of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below.Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/oradditional embodiments of the invention may be found in the DetailedDescription of the Invention below.

[0008] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specificationis provided as well for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention in some of its embodiments provides adevice having a screw cap with multiple sealing threads and a valve toinhibit spillage throught the cap

[0010] Another embodiment has at least one adapter with threadgeometries sized differently from the cap. The threading on the adaptermay be on both the inside and the outside of the adapter.

[0011] Another embodiment has at least one adapter having threadgeometries different from those of the cap can engage the device to acontainer with thread geometries different from that of the cap.

[0012] Another embodiment has at least one adapter with threadgeometries on both the inside of the adapter and the outside of theadapter.

[0013] Another embodiment has at least one adapter with multiple sets ofthread geometries on the outside of the adapter.

[0014] Another embodiment has at least one adapter with multiple sets ofthread geometries on the inside of the adapter.

[0015] Another embodiment has a cap with a mouth piece taken from thegroup consisting of: nipples, passifiers, sippy cup construction, fliptops, turn and screw construction, tubular, or any combination thereof.

[0016] Another embodiment has a construction selected from the groupconsisting of glasses, plastics, acrylics, metals, rubbers, or anycombination thereof.

[0017] Another embodiment has a cap having connection means of multiplegeometries such that connection can be made with a variety of bottleopenings and a valve to inhibit spillage through the cap.

[0018] In another embodiment the connection means is selected from thegroup comprising snap in place means, frictional means, pressure means,clamping means, or any combination thereof.

[0019] Another embodiment has an adapter configuration such that thescrew cap can be used with a container with a female threadingconfiguration.

[0020] These and other embodiments which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forminga part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, itsadvantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be madeto the drawings which form a further part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0021] A detailed description of the invention is hereafter describedwith specific reference being made to the drawings.

[0022]FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the cap.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cap along theline A-A showing the different connecting means geometries and checkvalve.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cap from an upper angle.

[0025]FIG. 4 is a side view of the cap with the broad portion of themouthpiece shown.

[0026]FIG. 5 is a side view of the cap with the narrow portion of themouthpiece shown.

[0027]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cap from a lower angle.

[0028]FIG. 7 is a top view of the cap.

[0029]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the cap along theline B-B showing the different connecting means geometries and checkvalve.

[0030]FIG. 9 is an upper angle perspective view of the cap with anengaged adapter.

[0031]FIG. 10 is a lower angle perspective view of the cap with theengaged adapter.

[0032]FIG. 11 is an upper angle perspective view of an adapter.

[0033]FIG. 12 is a lower angle perspective view of an adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms,there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of theinvention. This description is an exemplification of the principles ofthe invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments illustrated.

[0035] For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals inthe figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

[0036] In FIG. 1 a bottom view of the cap 1 is shown. In FIG. 2 thesmaller diameter connection means 3 and the larger diameter connectionmeans 5 are shown. All the connection means in this application caninclude those connection means including sealing threads, snaps (anyvariety in which one portion slides over a lip on one member and reachesa smaller diameter portion), solely frictional methods, etc. Heresealing threads are shown as most drinking containers use threads. Theliquid recovery chamber 7 is the portion of the cap 1 wherein the liquidmust pass before passing through the check valve 9. The check valve 9 isdesigned to prevent flow through the mouthpiece 11 in the absence of avacuum condition created by the user.

[0037] In FIGS. 3-6 one mouthpiece design is shown from differentperspectives. Other mouthpieces can be used with this invention such asnipples or flip tops such as those on water bottles.

[0038] Depending on the size of the bottle being fitted, smaller threads3 and larger threads 5 are engaged to the bottle. Liquid retaining walls15 and 17 as shown in FIG. 4 correspond respectively to threads 5 and 3.These walls retain the fluid inside the chamber 7.

[0039] In FIG. 6 the different sealing thread geometries 3 and 5 areshown. Smaller diameter threaded containers will screw into sealingthreads 3 and the larger screw diameter containers will screw intosealing threads 5. As there is a number of different sized diameterthreaded containers, an adapter 19 as shown in FIG. 9 may be used. Suchan adapter 19 can be screwed into the cap and as shown in FIG. 10 canhave a collection of different sealing thread diameters 20, 21, and 22.

[0040] In FIGS. 11 and 12 the adapter 19′ is shown. Adapter 19′ can besized to fit adapter 19 on one side and on the other side it can bedesigned to fit an array of different diameter threaded containersthrough another collection of different sealing thread diameters 20′,21′, and 22′ of adapter 19′.

[0041] In FIG. 7 liquid intake hole 23 opens to liquid recovery chamber7. and as shown in FIG. 8 the liquid outtake opening 25 of mouthpiece 11is an opening of two holes which are designed to impede the flow offluid through the cap when the bottle is dropped or tipped over.

[0042] At least one of the threads fit that of a standard size babybottle. The nipples for these bottles can be attached to this inventionin at least one embodiment. Rather than having a mouthpiece integral tothe cap, the cap can be designed to fit over or around a wide variety ofmouthpieces which can be attached to the top of the cap. In thisfashion, the same bottles can be fitted with the inventive device suchthat many mouthpieces including a nipple or passifier for an infant canbe used.

[0043] The above examples and disclosure are intended to be illustrativeand not exhaustive. These examples and description will suggest manyvariations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. Allthese alternatives and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the attached claims. Those familiar with the art may recognizeother equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein whichequivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims attachedhereto.

I claim:
 1. A device comprising: a) a cap having multiple threadgeometries; and b) a valve to inhibit spillage through the cap.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein at least one adapter having thread geometriesdifferent from those of the cap can engage the device to a containerwith thread geometries different from that of the cap.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, including at least one adapter has thread geometries on boththe inside of the adapter and the outside of the adapter.
 4. The deviceof claim 3, wherein the at least one adapter has multiple sets of threadgeometries on the outside of the adapter.
 5. The device of claim 3,wherein the at least one adapter has multiple sets of thread geometrieson the inside of the adapter.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the caphas a mouth piece taken from the group consisting of: nipples,passifiers, sippy cup construction, flip tops, turn and screwconstruction, tubular, or any combination thereof.
 7. The device ofclaim 1, constructed from the group consisting of glasses, plastics,acrylics, metals, rubbers, or any combination thereof.
 8. The device ofclaim 1 having a longitudinal axis, the sealing threads annular aboutthe axis.
 9. A device comprising: a) a cap having connection means ofmultiple geometries such that connection can be made with a variety ofbottle openings; and b) a valve to inhibit spillage through the cap. 10.The device of claim 9, wherein the connection means is selected from thegroup comprising snap in place means, frictional means, pressure means,clamping means, or any combination thereof.
 11. The device of claim 9,wherein at least one adapter has connection means having geometriesdifferent from those of the cap and can engage the device to a containerwith connection means having geometries different from that of the cap.12. The device of claim 9, including at least one adapter havingconnection means having different geometries on both the inside of theadapter and the outside of the adapter.
 13. The device of claim 12,wherein the at least one adapter has multiple sets of connection meansgeometries on the outside of the adapter.
 14. The device of claim 12,wherein the at least one adapter has multiple sets of connection meansgeometries on the inside of the adapter.
 15. The device of claim 9,wherein the cap has a mouth piece taken from the group consisting of:nipples, passifiers, sippy cup construction, flip tops, turn and screwconstruction, tubular, or any combination thereof.
 16. The device ofclaim 9, constructed from the group consisting of glasses, plastics,acrylics, metals, rubbers, or any combination thereof.
 17. The device ofclaim 9 having a longitudinal axis, the connection means annular aboutthe axis.